Firefighters` Union Objects To Public Service Proposal

MIRAMAR — The city firefighters` union is fighting Mayor Frank Branca`s plan to hire 10 public service officers to supplement both the police and fire department.

Union officials say all 33 union firefighters oppose the concept and that they`ve collected more than 600 signatures of residents opposed to the idea.

Chuck Huber, spokesman for the Professional Firefighters of Miramar, said public service officers would be detrimental to the teamwork required for a professional fire department.

Meanwhile, Branca said the union officials improperly used the city Fire Department`s phone number for union business and distributed petitions on city time.

``I thought their behavior was unprofessional and irresponsible,`` Branca said.

Branca`s proposal calls for 10 officers, paid $14,500 a year, who would be trained as firefighters but spend most of their time on non-emergency police duties such as directing traffic and answering complaints about loose dogs and dumped trash.

``But you can`t have a guy who answers phones and catches dogs come running in off the street to help us with a fire,`` Huber said.

Branca replied: ``But what does it matter if he comes running off the street or sliding down a pole after playing checkers?``

Union officials said Branca`s plan is costly and ineffective.

``The program misleads the public into believing that there are more firemen, when there will not be,`` union President Joe Labriola said.

Huber said more than 3,000 letters asking the public to oppose Branca`s plan were handed out last week in front of Miramar`s two Publix supermarkets.

Huber said the letters will be mailed to commissioners a handful at a time.

Four of five commissioners have said they favor the public service officer concept, while Commissioner Tom DeSantis said he prefers a volunteer fire department instead.

Branca said the union officials are misrepresenting the program.

``If I heard the information as they are presenting it, I`d probably sign the letter too,`` he said.

But Huber said, ``You still have one guy doing two jobs. It just won`t work.``

Pete Agate, union secretary, said the low salaries offered to public service officers would preclude their effectiveness.